If you're planning a family vacation during the summer months, there are few better places to visit than Pennsylvania. With its rich colonial and industrial history, as well as its varied landscape, Pennsylvania offers a variety of destinations for families. Several cities and towns in the state offer vacation experiences that are fun for the entire family, whether you enjoy sports, history or outdoor adventures.
Nicknamed the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia is a linchpin of the American Revolution. Independence Hall, the place where the Declaration of Independence was signed, and the Liberty Bell are two historic attractions. The National Constitution Center, located near Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, is a museum containing interactive exhibits about the American Constitution for the whole family. For families with young children, Sesame Place, a Sesame Street theme park, is a short car ride away in nearby Langhorne. If members of your family are baseball fans, you may want to catch a Philadelphia Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park.
Pittsburgh, a city traditionally linked with the steel industry and manufacturing, also has a number of attractions for families taking a summer vacation. The Carnegie Science Center, located in downtown Pittsburgh, has hundreds of interactive science exhibits for children as well as RoboWorld, an interactive exhibit where children can shoot basketballs and play air hockey with robots. Families with baseball fans may want to catch a Pittsburgh Pirates game at PNC Park, considered by ESPN to be the best baseball stadium in the United States.
The Pocono Mountains, located in northeastern Pennsylvania, are a popular year-round vacation destination. Family-friendly summer activities in the Poconos include Camelbeach Waterpark, a theme park in Tannersville with more than 22 water slides, an adventure river and a wave pool. Claws 'n' Paws Wild Animal Park offers daily animal shows and over 120 baby animals.The Pocono Mountains is also the home of Pocono Raceway, a triangle-shaped racetrack that hosts two NASCAR races every June and August.
Lancaster County is Pennsylvania Dutch country, largely known for its large Amish population. Families interested in visiting a centuries-old way of life can take an Amish buggy ride, sample Amish food or visit the Amish Heritage Center Museum. Lancaster is also the home of the Keystone International Balloon Festival, a September event where hundreds of hot air balloon teams fly. For more adventurous families, many companies in Lancaster offer the opportunity to ride in a hot air balloon.
